Last chance cancer treatment for Dad

Hi, my name is Loti, and I'm raising funds in hopes to give my Dad one last chance at fighting cancer.

I’m 25 and my Dad- Rob is 58, last year in January he hurt his back helping a friend and (for the first time in 23 years) had to take some time off work to heal. Whilst continuing to rest in March he started to experience pins and needles on the right side of his body. 3 weeks later after several doctors visits and some scans, we found out his back pain was caused by a very large tumor growing in the middle of his brain, pressing on his nerves and receptors.

Each week after that, he exhibited new symptoms at an alarming pace; losing vision, sensation and motor function. His infamously sharp wit softened and he grew fatigued quickly.

I’ve mourned Dads eyesight, his mobility, his strength and our future.

Despite all this, thankfully, I have yet to mourn his hope. I’m asking if you could help keep that little bit alive and donate to a ‘last chance’ type of treatment.

Cancer progression timeline;

Before April 2023 my Dad has been a healthy, fit and active member of his community, with no history of cancer in our family. Best known for his loud laugh, eclectic shirt collection and being a ‘Mr.Fix-it’ for anyone who needed him.

On April 22nd 2023, he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer so rare that they haven’t got a name for it yet. After further investigation in May, it was concluded that the cancer found in his brain was not the primary tumor- meaning there is a ‘source’ of cancer somewhere else in his body that they cannot find.

The only treatment he has received has been gamma knife radiation therapy in June 2023- a procedure typically done once, but was administered to my Dad five times.

The brain tumor responded well to the treatment and shrunk significantly, but unfortunately his symptoms did not alleviate. My Mum- Alison- left her job to assume a full time caregiver role for my Dad.

We have continued to hold out hope for more treatments, but in May 2024 Dad's doctors said there was nothing more to try. At present there are very few treatments available to someone with an unidentified primary tumor, but thankfully we asked for a second opinion. Which was when we were informed of a drug called trastuzumab deruxtecan, this treatment is very new and very costly, but has been effective in other cases similar to Dads.

Treatment costs;

For one round of intravenous treatment administered in London we have been quoted £10,000 approximately. These treatments are expected to be administered once every three weeks.

My brother Stephen will very kindly pay for the first treatment, whilst we try desperately to source more from charities, medical grants and this gofundme.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be put towards future rounds of treatment and its associated medical expenses.

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I understand this is a lot of money to ask of friends and strangers, and it is not something I take lightly. I endeavor to provide updates and any progress along the way to keep you informed.

We're uncertain what the future looks like, and so we want to do whatever is in our power to make sure Dad is always a part of it.

Thank you for your time, generosity and compassion.

With love always

-Loti x